Topic: New camera - Bronica ETRS *bounce bounce*

[Ordinal]

So I got paid for some work recently (which is a rare enough event in itself) and bought a camera I'd been looking at for a while, the Bronica ETRS. I don't have a MF SLR but have enjoyed shooting in 6x4.5 on the Holga and the GS645S. Plus I shoot a lot of street where I rarely seem to take more than 16 pictures in a day anyway.

For a bit over £200 I got a body and 75/2.8 lens, speed grip, two backs plus a Polaroid back with some film left in it, diagonal split screen thing, WLF and also five rolls of in-date Delta 400 which was a bit of a bonus.

So does anyone have any tips or suggestions? I like the WLF but thought I might get an AE-II prism as well - I don't like metering on the street so much. Are there particularly good or good value lenses? The Polaroid back seems... eccentric, but I think I might use it for the postcard exchange once I find a good theme for pictures that use all the black space left over.

[JoeV]

I've had an ETRS since the late 1980s, it's been very reliable and of superb image quality with the standard 75mm lens.

Be aware that the shutter is interlocked by the film holder dark slide. And you cannot dry fire the shutter and advance the winder without film unless you flip down the little lever on the right side for multi-exposure.

You cannot release the film back with dark slide removed, another safety interlock.

There's a metal ring around the shutter button that turns in two positions, but it's been so long, I don't remember what it's for. Either shutter lock or mirror lockup. Best to get a PDF copy of the owner's manual from online.

I keep switching back and forth between WLF and prism finder. There's good reasons to use both, depending on subject matter and shooting style. I will also on occasion affix it to the top of a sturdy Bogen tripod and go hunting for landscape images, where it delivers the goods in spades.

There are available replacement ground glass view screens. Some have grids, while others just the center focusing spot. Kind of nice to have a few on hand. I like the grid for landscape and architecture, while for street I like the bare screen.

There's also a speed grip that works well with the prism finder. You pull the pin out and remove the film winder handle, then attach the base of the camera into the locking speed grip handle, whose film advance lever interlocks into where the film crank was attached. You have to double-stroke the speed grip lever to fully advance the film.

Having WLF, prism finder and speed grip gives you lots of combinations in camera handling. Really a great system, and prices are really nice now for the buyer.

I need to use it more in urban settings, thanks for posting this thread, as it might spur me on to action.

~Joe

[AJShepherd]

I do like my ETRS. I bought a basic unit with the WLF and the standard 75mm lens, and since then I've added to it a bit. I've got the 50mm wide angle, and I got a second film holder, because it saves time changing film and does allow you to switch types of film easily.

I bought an AE-II prism, which I really like. It's a bit weird as the mirror doesn't auto-return like in the kind of SLRs I was used to, so when you take the shot the viewfinder stays black until you wind on. I've found the metering to be pretty good.

I also got the speed grip. I found that with the prism, it felt awkward to hold the camera at eye level. The grip locks onto the bottom of the camera. You remove the normal winding on handle, and part of the grip interlocks to where the lever was attached. Two strokes of a thumb lever on the grip winds on one frame of film.
Caveat is that the first grip I bought appeared to turn when it wasn't attached, but once it was attached it wouldn't advance the film. I was able to send it back for a refund, and the second one I got does work. But it's something to be aware of.

The grip also gives you a hot shoe.

With the prism and grip, it handles just like a big SLR, so I call mine the SLR of DOOM! I took it on a day out with friends last year and they were all "Wow! That's a serious looking camera!".

I kind of wish I'd got a longer lens when I had the spare cash, although I'm not sure if I'd want to carry one about all day.
I was also intrigued by the polaroid back, so would quite like to see some results from one of those!

[tkmedia]

Be aware that the shutter is interlocked by the film holder dark slide. And you cannot dry fire the shutter and advance the winder without film unless you flip down the little lever on the right side for multi-exposure.

True, but it is often much better to test with a test roll. As Ive seen various issues which dry firing does not help. Film transport, bad backs/counters, advancing issues.

You cannot release the film back with dark slide removed, another safety interlock.

Because the mirrors is not auto return, best to remove lens with shutter cocked. So everything is in sync. There are also three different style rollfilm backs and 3 different style inserts, all interchangeable. They often get mixed up. When off the body some back allow you to take the dark slide out while others dont. Also insert the dark slid the correct way, not upside down!

There's a metal ring around the shutter button that turns in two positions, but it's been so long, I don't remember what it's for. Either shutter lock or mirror lockup.

Note there are two models of ETRS. newer versions use more plastic on the outter shell of the body. Newer ones have a plastic slide leaver on the side of the body to release the lens. while older have a more metal outer shell but use a rotating knob opposite the shutter release knob.

As for the shutter release knob ring has three settings, unlocked, shutter release button lock but drive and cable release unlocked, and all locked. The ETRsi is the model with mirror up.

I written a bit about the ETR system at the link below. I'm pretty sure I got most of it right.
http://camera-wiki.org/wiki/Bronica_Etr

[Terry]

I bought an ETRSi a year or more ago and have used it frequently.  Ergonomically, I find it very natural to use.  The Vf is big and bright and I think the Seiko lenses it uses are excellent.  I've found the 100mm macro a bit long and heavy but useful.  I bought a 200mm but don't use it all that often--with the standard 75mm it's small and light (for an MF camera) and eminently portable.  I like it a lot.

[Ordinal]

Thanks everyone - I put in an order for the AE-II prism while I still have some money left over.

Are there any straps people can recommend? While not super heavy, I'm not sure I could hand hold it for a whole day.

[Francois]

For great straps, check out the Kata website. I have one made from neoprene and it's just fantastic. They're well finished (better than my old Tamrac) and have some shock absorbing properties which make it nice. The only drawback is that they're warm and sweat will slightly stain them.